Brussels off the beaten track

Native or adopted son or daughter of the city, commuter or tourist: whoever you are, in this section you’ll discover another side to Brussels. Think you know the capital like the back of your hand? You’re in for quite a surprise!

Of course, our selection is entirely subjective.

First of all, it’s not our intention to list every single building or façade of interest, piece of trivia or place with an interesting story connected to it. There are plenty of very good books that do that job, albeit in French:

• Bruxelles insolite et secret
  Nathalie Capart, Isabelle de Pange & Nicolas van Beek, Editions Jonglez
• Bruxelles insolite. Trésors cachés et lieux secrets
  Laurence Bragard & Régis Duque, Editions Les beaux jours
• Les mystères de Bruxelles
  Daniel-Charles Luytens, Noir Dessin Production
• 400 façades étonnantes à Bruxelles
  Isabelle de Pange & Cécile Schaack, Editions Aparté
• Promenades insolites dans Bruxelles disparu
  Jacques van Wijnendaele, Editions Racine
• Brussel gestript. De strip in Brussel, op ontdekking door de stad
  Thibaut Vandorselaer, Lannoo
• Un an de patrimoine à Bruxelles, 52 lieux incontournables
  Brigitte FERNANDEZ, ODL Editions
• Magic Brussels, unusual places
  Isabeau PAAPE and Elisabeth HALABI, Renaissance du Livre

You can also download brochures on the websites of the 19 communes detailing various walking and cycling tours that take in parks and gardens, iconic monuments, historical sites and other places of interest.